ESA Annual Meetings Online Program

Ant diversity and community structure on coastal dunes of the northern Gulf of Mexico

Sunday, November 11, 2012: 3:45 PM
200 D, Floor Two (Knoxville Convention Center)
Xuan Chen , Department of Entomology, Louisiana State University AgCenter, Baton Rouge, LA
Benjamin Adams , Entomology, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, LA
Cody Bergeron , Entomology, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, LA
Linda M. Hooper-Bui , Entomology, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, LA
Coastal dunes are dynamic and subjected to various physical stressors. A transect perpendicular to the shoreline presents a strong environmental gradient. We studied ant diversity and community structure, and their relationship with environmental factors on dunes along the northern Gulf of Mexico using quadrat sampling and hand collecting from 2010 to 2012. Thirty species were found in total with back dunes supporting the highest number of species. Forelius pruinosus and Dorymyrmex flavus are the dominant ant.  Community structure was different among habitats. Ant abundance was significantly related to plant cover and height. Coastal dunes contain high ant richness because they provide several heterogeneous habitats. Vegetation structure is the main factor that influenced ant distribution on dunes.
See more of: Ten-Minute Papers, SysEB Section, Conservation, Biodiversity, and Gulf Coast Insects
See more of: Ten Minute Paper (TMP) Oral
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